196,092 research outputs found
Quando il capitale si fa carne. Relazioni lavorative e sessuali tra imprenditori italiani e donne romene
No full textLa Macro-Area: la pianura di Pisa
No full textIl management e la conoscenza delle aree di pianura
hanno assunto un ruolo di fondamentale importanza
perché intensamente antropizzate e sede di ingenti interessi
socio-economici. La gestione delle risorse idriche,
il monitoraggio dei fenomeni di subsidenza, la
tutela del patrimonio archeologico ed edilizio sono,
perciò elementi di crescente attenzione ma che non
possono prescindere anche da una conoscenza approfondita
dell’architettura stratigrafica del sottosuolo.
Il grado di attendibilità dei modelli di circolazione dei
fluidi, base indispensabile per una corretta ed efficace
gestione della risorsa idrica, è strettamente connesso
all’accuratezza della ricostruzione dell’architettura
sedimentaria del sottosuolo e, di conseguenza, ai
modelli interpretativi che mettono in relazione litofacies
ed ambienti deposizionali. Tali relazioni debbono
inoltre essere costrette all’interno di un quadro cronostratigrafico
che restituisca un’evoluzione stratigrafico
- deposizionale coerente sia in termini di spazio che
di tempo. Lo stesso grado di dettaglio è necessario
complemento nella ricerca archeologica per meglio
definire le caratteristiche ambientali nel quale un certo
sito si sviluppava, oppure per elaborare carte del potenziale
archeologico che sono di fondamentale importanza
per la redazione di piani strutturali efficaci.
Questi ultimi, infine, non possono non tenere conto
dei fenomeni di subsidenza, che sono facilmente contestualizzabili
e misurabili solo all’interno di un quadro
crono-stratigrafico e deposizionale del sottosuolo
ben definito, o di particolari depositi con caratteristiche
geotecniche peculiari (a Pisa è ben noto il “pancone”)
la cui distribuzione e spessore sono definibili
e prevedibili solo laddove siano disponibili modelli
affidabili dell’architettura deposizionale del sottosuolo.
Lo studio ad alta risoluzione delle successioni sedimentarie
tardo-quaternarie delle aree di pianura è,
inoltre, di fondamentale importanza per la verifica dei modelli della stratigrafia sequenziale che costituisce
l’approccio metodologico moderno utilizzato per la
ricerca di idrocarburi o di qualsiasi atro tipo di fluido.
Lo scarso grado o l’assenza di deformazione tettonica
che caratterizzano i depositi di queste aree e la possibilità
di effettuare datazioni assolute permette una
definizione di dettaglio, a scala di bacino, dei vari modelli
deposizionali e della loro evoluzione in funzione
di fattori di controllo, quali l’eustatismo o il clima. In
questo senso, la grande attenzione rivolta attualmente
al riscaldamento globale e alle possibili variazioni del
livello del mare ad esso connesse (IPCC, 2001, 2007,
ALLEY, 2003, NATIONAL RESEARCH iCOUNCILNRC,
2002), trova un importante riferimento in questi
sistemi deposizionali, il cui studio e modellizzazione
potrebbero consentire una finestra di osservazione più
ampia per la previsione degli scenari futuri legati ai
cambiamenti climatici in atto.
La possibilità di studiare nel dettaglio la stratigrafia di
sottosuolo e di ricostruirne in modo corretto l’architettura
deposizionale, non può però prescindere dalla
realizzazione di sondaggi a carotaggio continuo, unico
strumento di osservazione diretta del sottosuolo, e
dall’utilizzo di un approccio di tipo multidisciplinare
al loro studio
The elevation net for the saltwater intrusion phenomenon analysis in the coastal plain of Pisa
No full textIn coastal plains, such as that of Pisa, with particular reference to groundwater, the marine intrusion phenomenon occurs not only through the freshwater/saltwater interface in the aquifer along the shore line, but also by the rise of the salt wedge in watercourses, in case they are in hydraulic connection with the aquifer itself.
The depth of the interface is primarily regulated by the hydrostatic freshwater/saltwater balance, that can be modified by anthropic exploitation of groundwater.
To date, seawater intrusion is considered one of the most extensive and important processes that degrade water quality through an increase in salinity levels up to values exceeding the standard for drinking water and irrigation systems, and endangering the future use of coastal waters.
Given the potential harmfulness of the phenomenon, in order to monitor its evolution, control wells are set up, within which it is possible to perform routine analysis aimed at measuring the characteristic parameters of the phenomenon itself.
The essential foundation to reconstruct the freshwater/saltwater interface, and therefore also for the recognition of the phenomenon of seawater intrusion, is represented by piezometric reconstructions integrated with hydrogeochemical information that can be obtained directly from measurements made in wells and indirectly through laboratory tests carried out on samples of water. A serious limitation of the piezometric reconstructions is mostly represented by the margin of approximation with which the height of water points has been established, which in turn result in uncertainty in the relationship between piezometric and hydrometric elevation. This paper presents various methodologies, GNSS and conventional, to determine piezometers elevation, also evaluating the accuracy obtainable and the requirements in terms of time, personnel and equipment
THE ACCURACY ANALYSIS OF LIDAR-DERIVED ELEVATION DATA FOR THE GEOMETRIC DESCRIPTION OF CROSS-SECTIONS OF A RIVERBED
No full textThe work stems from a joint study between the Laboratory ASTRO (Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering – University of Pisa), the municipality of Pisa and the province of Arezzo on the advanced analysis and use of digital elevation data. Besides, it is framed in the research carried on by ASTRO about the definition of the priority informative layers for emergency management in the territory, as of PRIN 2008. Specifically, this work is in continuity with other already published results concerning rigorous accuracy checks of LIDAR data and testing of the procedures to transform raw data in formats consistent with CTR and survey data. The analysis of sections of riverbed, derived from interpolation by DTMs featuring different grid density with those detected topographically, is presented. Validation by differential GNSS methodology of the DTMs used showed a good overall quality of the model for open, low-sloping areas. Analysis of the sections, however, has shown that the representation of small or high-sloping (ditches, embankments) morphological elements requires a high point density such as in laser scanner surveys, and a small mesh size of the grid. In addition, the correct representation of riverside structures is often hindered by the presence of thick vegetation and poor raw LIDAR data filtering
Tissue engineering of a tracheal substitute
No full textLectin histochemistry and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to assess the growth and characterise the differentiation of human respiratory epithelial cells (REC) cultured on two biomaterial scaffolds. The first scaffold, based on a hyaluronic acid derivative, was observed to be non-adhesive for REC. This lack of adhesion was found to be unrelated to the presence of the hyaluronic acid binding domain on the surface of isolated REC. The other scaffold, consisting of equine collagen, was observed to encourage REC spreading and adhesion. Positive Ulex Europaeus agglutinin (UEA) lectin staining of this preparation indicated the presence of ciliated REC on the scaffold surface. However, the marked decrease in peanut agglutinin (PNA) positive staining, relative to that of control cultures and native tissue, indicates a dedifferentiation of the secretory cells in monolayer. SEM analysis of REC cultured on the collagen scaffold confirmed the presence of ciliated cells thereby validating the UEA positive staining. The presence of both established and developing cilia was also verified. This indicates that collagen biomaterials are appropriate for the tissue engineering of REC. Furthermore, that UEA and PNA staining is a useful tool in the characterisation of cells cultured on biomaterials, therefore helpful in identifying biomaterials that are suitable for specific tissue engineering purposes.
The culture of REC at an air liquid interface (ALI) was investigated. Both conventional ALI inserts and the Biofleece scaffold were used. The cells grown the on conventional inserts became multilayered and showed some degree of ciliation after the period of ten days. The cells grown on the Biofleece scaffold became necrotic and died due to nutrient deprivation. The use of ALI culture techniques on scaffold materials needs to be adjusted to allow for sufficient nutrient supply to the cells.
The Biofleece scaffold was found to be suitable for the tissue engineering of cartilage in vitro. Constructs with a cartilage-like morphology were generated with the scaffold after two weeks in culture. The tissue-engineered cartilage was found to contain a higher number of cells and less extracellular matrix (ECM) than the native tissue controls. Suction seeding techniques were used to improve the distribution of cells within the scaffold and thereby increase the overall efficiency of cartilage tissue engineering within the scaffold. Alcian blue (AB) and Papanicolau (PN) stains of the tissue engineered cartilage described two distinct regions within the constructs, namely the developed cartilage-like region and the developing region. The latter is thought to be areas in which the cartilage cells are yet to fully remodel the scaffold material and deposit their own “native” ECM. However, the Biofleece scaffold material was observed to loose 40-50% of its initial volume during the tissue engineering process over a period of two weeks. Thus the degradation of the Biofleece scaffold exceeds the rate of maturation of the cartilage tissue within the scaffold. This rapid biodegradation is most likely a result of matrixmetalloproteinase (MMP), in particular collagenase, production by the maturing chondrocytes. This reduction in size means that the Biofleece scaffold is not an appropriate material for the tissue engineering of a trachea. The optimal biomaterial for the tissue engineering of a trachea would degrade at a rate equal too, or slower than, the time taken for the cells within the scaffold to mature into functional tissue.
The co-culture of REC and chondrocytes was achieved through the use of matrigel as a basement membrane replacement (note that direct growth of REC on cartilage tissue has been observed to be difficult). The co-cultured constructs were not stable because the Biofleece scaffold degrades at a high rate in the presence of both cell types. The constructs were observed to shrink to approximately 35-30% of the original dimensions in a period of 3-7 days. The reason for this accelerated degradation is not known but is most likely the result of severe MMP production by the two cell types when in combination.
It was concluded that the characterisation procedures used in this study (histochemical staining, fluorescent staining and scanning electron microscopy) for both REC and chondrocyte tissue engineered constructs are appropriate for this and further studies. The chondrocyte seeding methodologies in particular are a useful tool for tissue engineering. This study succeeds in many ways to investigate the tissue engineering of a tracheal substitute by detailing how REC and chondrocytes can be cultured on biomaterials and assessed for tissue development. However, the study does not deliver such a viable substitute as an end product. The primary reason for this outcome is the rapid degradation of the Biofleece scaffold materialLectin Histochemie und Elektronenmikroskopie wurden benutzt, um das Wachstum von humanen respiratorischen Epithelzellen (RECs), welche auf zwei Biomaterialien kultiviert wurden, festzusetzen und ihren Differenzierungsgrad zu bestimmen. Das erste Trägermaterial, welches auf einem Hyaluronsäurederivat basiert, ließ keine Anheftung der RECs zu. Diese fehlende Anheftung ließ sich jedoch nicht zurückführen auf das Vorhandensein der Hyaluronsäure bindenden Domaine auf der Oberfläche isolierter RECs. Das andere Trägermaterial, aus Pferdekollagen hergestellt, zeigte dagegen eine verstärkte Teilungsaktivität und Anheftung der REC. Die positive Ulex Europaeus Agglutinin (UEA) Lectin Färbung dieser Proben ließ die Anwesenheit von mit Zilien versehenen RECs auf der Trägerstoffoberfläche vermuten. Darüber hinaus weist das im Vergleich zu Kontrollkulturen und nativem Gewebe deutliche Nachlassen der positiven Peanut Agglutinin–Färbereaktion auf eine Dedifferenzierung der sekretorischen Zellen in der Monolayer-Kultur hin. Die rasterelektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung der auf dem Kollagenbiomaterial kultivierten RECs bestätigte das Auftreten von Zellen mit Zilien und damit auch die Aussagekräftigkeit der positiven UEA–Färbung. Dies zeigt somit, dass Biomaterialien aus Kollagen für das Tissue Engineering von RECs geeignet sind und dass sowohl die UEA–als auch die PNA–Färbung geeignete Methoden zur Charakterisierung von Zellen darstellen, die auf Biomaterialien kultiviert wurden. Somit helfen sie bei der Identifizierung von Biomaterialien für bestimmte Einsatzgebiete im Tissue Engineering.
Des weiteren wurde die Kultivierung von RECs auf einem Air liquid interface (ALI) untersucht, wobei sowohl der konventionelle ALI–Einsatz als auch das Biovliesmaterial zum Einsatz kamen. Dabei wuchsen die Zellen auf dem konventionellen Einsatz in Multilayern und zeigten nach einem Zeitraum von 10 Tagen einen bestimmten Anteil an Ziliierung. Die Zellen auf dem Biovlies dagegen wurden nekrotisch und gingen schließlich an Nahrungsmangel ein. Deshalb muss der Einsatz von ALI–Kulturtechniken bei Trägermaterialien dementsprechend modifiziert werden, dass eine ausreichende Versorgung der Zellen mit Nährstoffen gewährleistet ist.
Für das in vitro–Tissue Engineering von Knorpel erwies sich das Biovlies jedoch als geeignet. Mit ihm konnten nach zwei Wochen Kulturzeit Konstrukte mit einer knorpelähnlichen Morphologie erzeugt werden. Dabei zeigte sich, dass der Tissue Engineering–Knorpel eine höhere Zellzahl bei reduzierter extrazellulärer Matrix (ECM) aufwies als vergleichbares natives Kontrollgewebe. Dabei wurden Saugtechniken benutzt, um die Verteilung der Zellen im Trägerstoff zu verbessern. Die Alzian – Blau – Färbung (AB) und Papanicolau – Färbung (PN) zeigten bei dem Tissue Engineering–Knorpel zwei unterschiedliche Regionen innerhalb des Konstrukts, nämlich eine knorpelähnliche bereits entwickelte Region und eine sich entwickelnde Region. Bei letzterer dürfte es sich wohl um Gebiete handeln, in denen Zellen noch im Begriff sind, den Trägerstoff vollends umzubauen und ihre eigene „native“ ECM abzulagern. Nichtsdestoweniger büßte das Biovlies während des Tissue Engineering Prozesses über einen Zeitraum von zwei Wochen annähernd 40-50 % seines anfänglichen Volumens ein. Somit übersteigt das Ausmaß der Degradation des Biovlieses das des Heranreifens von Knorpelgewebe in dem Trägermaterial. Diese schnelle Biodegradation ist am ehesten das Ergebnis der Aktivität von Matrixmetalloproteinasen (MMP), insbesondere der Kollagenase, welche von reifenden Chondrozyten produziert wird. Diese Schrumpfung bedeutet also, dass das Biovlies kein geeignetes Material für das Tissue Engineering der Trachea darstellt. Denn ein optimales Biomaterial für das Tissue Engineering der Trachea sollte sich innerhalb derselben Zeit bzw. über einen längeren Zeitraum hinweg abbauen, als innerhalb desjenigen, den die sich in dem Trägermaterial befindlichen Zellen benötigen, um zu funktionalem Gewebe heranzureifen.
Durch den Einsatz von Matrigel als Ersatz für die Basalmembran konnte eine Kokultur aus RECs und Chondrozyten etabliert werden (wobei anzumerken ist, dass sich direktes Wachstum von RECs auf Knorpelgewebe als problematisch erweist). Die Konstrukte aus Kokulturen waren nicht stabil, da das Biovlies in Anwesenheit beider Zelltypen hochgradig abgebaut wird. Innerhalb von 3–7 Tagen schrumpften die Konstrukte auf ca. 35–50 % ihrer Ausgangsgröße zusammen. Der Grund für diesen beschleunigten Abbau ist unbekannt, jedoch ist am ehesten eine ausgeprägte Produktion von MMP durch die beiden Zellarten anzunehmen, sobald diese in Kombination vorliegen.
Insgesamt lässt sich sagen, dass die Methoden zur Zell- und Gewebecharakterisierung, welche in dieser Studie benutzt wurden (histochemische Färbungen, Fluoreszenzfärbung und Elektronenmikroskopie) sowohl für mit RECs als auch mit Chondrozyten hergestellte Konstrukte für die vorliegende Arbeit als auch zukünftige Studien als geeignet anzusehen sind. Diese Studie hat in vielerlei Hinsicht erfolgreich das Tissue Engineering einer Luftröhre untersuchen können, indem sie im Detail aufzeigt, wie RECs und Chondrozyten auf Biomaterialien kultiviert und für das Tissue Engineering eingesetzt werden können. Trotzdem kann diese Arbeit kein einsetzbares Ersatzmaterial als Endprodukt liefern. Der Hauptgrund für dieses Ergebnis ist in erster Linie in dem schnellen Abbau des Biovlieses als Trägermaterial zu sehen
Ricostruzione dell’architettura deposizionale dei depositi tardo quaternari del sottosuolo della pianura di Pisa attraverso l’utilizzo di sistemi di modellazione 3d
No full text
Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011
No full textThis video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer
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